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- IMPBOVED ANNALING-FURNACE.

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TO AIL IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that' I, W. R. ITHGMAS, of Catasauqua, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in AnnealinglFurnace; vand'I do hereby declare' that thefoilowing is a full, clear, and I exact-description thereof, which-will enable those skilled in the art to make and use' the same, reference being had to'the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This'invention consists in theonstruction ofa furnace for annealing car-wheels, whereby the hubs of the .said wheels may be raised to a highA temperature without inj'ury to thehardened or chilled rim or tread ofthe wheel, andvalsoin placing rings of metal between the wheels, as they are placed in the furnace, for the prlotecL tion of the riins, as will be herein described.

' 'Figure 1 represents aQsectional 'elevation of the furnace, ,through the line :n a: of" iig.l 2.

Figure 2 is a top view with the cover of the furnace taken ci?.

Similar letters of reference indicate 'corresponding'parts.

rep'es'eu'ts' the furnace; "A is the furnace-cover; B is the're-box g B isithe grate; y C, the ash-pit;V D, the tuyereliron or pipe, throughwhioh a current of air is forcedinto the furnace through the ash-pit, as een'in the drawing. Evrepresentsrthe car-wheels placed in the furnace for annealing, and resting' upon an' ofl'seth` q, in' furnacefwall, asseen in the drawing. F represent rings, which are placed between Athe wheels for thepupose of'protecting the chilled rims or treads of the Wheels fromthe intenseheat of the furnace.` It is intended that the eyes of' the ivheels as'hey are placedf together in the furnace shall forro a Hue, through which the'products of combustion shall pass `in their course to the outletpipe-G at the top`of the furnace. The upper portion only of the wheels and rings-is shown in section, the lower portion of the wheels and 'rings is shown entire.y

The form of the rings will be scenpby noticing the s ection. In diameter they are designed to lll the furnace, and protectthe tread of the wheels from the mor? intense heat which acts upon the hubs.

After subjecting the wheels, when in this position, to the action of the heat for about four hours, (more or less,) the furnace is then closed up, andthe wheels are allowed to remain and cool three or four days, or'a sufcient length of time; .after which' time the wheels are ready for use,`the strain occasioned bythe shrinking of the casting is taken away, vand the wheels are-consequently stronger and more durable.'

I am aivaie'of the patents for anneaiing cast wheels, granted to A. Whitney and H. W. Moore, and `dated respectively April 25, 1848,' and December 5, 1865, but as they form no part of my invcntion,I donot'therefore claim theni. i

WhatI claim as new, and desire `to secure by Letters Patent, is

The rings E, placed between and supporting the car-wheels, and fitting snugly Withinl the furnace A, whereby the heatis prevented from reaching the chilled tread of the wheel, while the centre is being annealed by intense heat, the Iwhole supported upon the os'eta in the furnace, as herein set forth for-the purpose specified.

The above specification of my invention signed by me, this 27th day of April, 1867. v

' y W E. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

MILTON BERGER, R. CLAY HANNELY; 

